beachboy2

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Join Date: 16th June 2008
Last Login: 3rd September 2015 - 06:12
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Topic / Forum	Comment
Tamron mirror lens-Pentax *isdS Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs	Resilvering a mirror is a highly skilled job. Perhaps a Google search for lens repairers? It a bit more than just an average repair though.Actually John, amateur astronomers use to silver telescope mirrors. Can be done yourself. Aluminium coatings which are more the norm need the professionals ttbomk. cheers bb2
IE 10 and exinfo Posted in General Digital Photography chat	Just a heads up for anyone who has upgraded to IE 10 and can't use their exinfo programme on web photos: just switch to "compatibility view" and voila, exinfo data is visible assuming data has been published of course. I noticed other blog sites where people were stumped! cheers bb2
M42 adapter Posted in Lenses for Pentax Cameras	I have Pentax version and a non-genuine version. On the NGV I removed the little screw-on attachment to be on the safe side. Still works fine but some users (in the past, probably several years ago??) found that the adapter could jam and not be removable. Good luck. bb2
Where I can find a 112mm front lens cap? Posted in Lenses for Pentax Cameras	I bought one on ebay ex USA for my Adaptall 300mm F2.8. Black painted, diecast, uses filter thread. Occassionally available. Cheers bb2
First timelapse vid - Northern Lights Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs	Well I thought it was great and the music is perfect! cheers bb2
Cottesloe Art-sunrise shoot Posted in Your Photos	Hi K10D Well done. Presumably early morning shots so does the exinfo show GMT? Certainly not WST. cheers bb2
New firmware for K5II and IIs Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs	As per other forum, v1.03 appears to fix bounce flash exposure issue. bb2
Antarctica 2013 Posted in Your Photos	"Excellent images. Any problems with cold temperatures? " Surprisingly little. I had 5 x K5 batteries. Always kept a spare in a warm placed pocket, and would rotate batteries when they showed low power. However, the "low battery" would recover on warming and be rotated back into one of the cameras.Ditto for GPS battery. Fogging of lenses was not a problem either. Modern coatings? Did have a CP filter on almost 100% of time. cheers bb2
Antarctica 2013 Posted in Your Photos	Just testing direct image insert: Midnight Sun on the Ross Sea. K5 plus Sigma 17-50 F2.8 HSM It works!
Pentax kit lenses Posted in Lenses for Pentax Cameras	I took a WR kit lens to Antarctica recently for use when I could not avoid salt spray etc. Also took a new Sigma 17-50 F2.8 HSM. The Sigma is certainly my new "kit" lens. The Pentax WR was quite disappointing.I bought the Sigma f/2.8 HSM whilst waiting for a repaired or replacement 16-50 Pentax lens. It's a great optic. How was your 18-55 Pentax disappointing? Best regardsJust lacked the sharpness. In bright light and stopped down I can get reasonable photos. An earlier non WR kit lens I have is better. cheers bb2
Shooting Girls - Melissa Posted in Your Photos	Lovely. And the photography is not bad either! cheers bb2
Pentax kit lenses Posted in Lenses for Pentax Cameras	I took a WR kit lens to Antarctica recently for use when I could not avoid salt spray etc. Also took a new Sigma 17-50 F2.8 HSM. The Sigma is certainly my new "kit" lens. The Pentax WR was quite disappointing.
PENTAX Image sensor cleaning kit O-ICK1 Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs	I'm not really so sure why a special kit is required? It's easy to make a sensor cleaning tool with a chip fork or lollipop stick, cut off so that there is an exactly square end and then wrapped with a Pec Pad or similar so several layers cover the end. Very lightly dampen the pad (it musn't be wet, only very slightly damp) with isopropyl alcohol and wipe carefully across the sensor surface (make sure there's nothing on there that can scratch before doing this). I've done this several times on my K-x and once on my K-5 with very successful results and it cost me about 1p per clean. Regards DavidIt's not a wet method. It's a sticky gunk method. Similar to what a technician told me one time about cleaning spots off LCD screens with sticky tape. I wasn't game to try sticky tape (sellotape) on my sensor Hence the use of (presumably) high quality gunk. cheers bb2
PENTAX Image sensor cleaning kit O-ICK1 Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs	It finally happened that I got a hard to move spot on my K5 sensor. After researching the various methods came across the Pentax accessory. Promaster produce something similar and bought the Promaster due to easy availabilty. Easy to use. Successfully cleaned spot off sensor, and would recommend this type of cleaning device. PS a search showed this mentioned in posts some years ago!
Antarctica 2013 Posted in Your Photos	Any pics of the place itself? :) Scott's Hut on the flank of Mt Erebus, Ross Island, Antarctica.
Antarctica 2013 Posted in Your Photos	Sounds like a great place to have cameras. I like the first shot but did a check on the levels as the white didn't seem correct. It's a tad shy at the top end and improves the image noticeably when pulled into line. Best regardsHi K10D That photo of the Crabeater Seals on an iceflow was 200mm/F4.5 and 1/1250secs. Presumably with CP filter.At 68Deg 13Min South. Problem was the very white snow. I wanted detail on the seals and a touch of detail on the snow. The Albatross are also difficult to get the levels spot on. Cape Petrels (not shown) are almost impossible with a mix of dark brown and snow white colours! The seal photo looks OK on my monitor. Cheers bb2
Antarctica 2013 Posted in Your Photos	Another photo:
Antarctica 2013 Posted in Your Photos	Back from trip to Ross Sea. After taking 3 cameras and lots of lenses, I mainly used K5-IIs, and K5 with Sigma 70-200 F2.8 HSM 2 Macro and Sigma 17-50 F2.8. Occassionally 18-55 WR kit lens.Also used CP filter almost always. Longer lens than 200mm would have been good for shooting wildlife on the pack ice. http://i427.photobucket.com/albums/pp357/beachboy2_photos/Antarctica%202013/K2SP0604.jpg
Calling K5ii/ K5iis owners - loose shutter Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs	Noise is perhaps a strong word. There is a perceptible sound and it does not affect the use/function. As I said, it was similar to the shop model. Anyway back to the K5iis, I am really impressed. I not a pro, but the pictures are visibly sharper and a tiny bit less noisy. But the main difference is the focussing under low light.My K5iis has the same slight looseness.Doesn't affect performance? But I wonder if weather sealing is affected? Going to Antarctica soon. Would hate to find it's an issue while I'm down there! cheers bb2
How are 'you' getting on with the K-5 IIs? Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs	Yes JohnX. Don't regret buying it. Wanted a backup unit for an Antarctic trip. Having the K5 and K5iis means it's easy to switch between the two. My son will get the K20D.The AF is better in dark conditions at least.Subjectively I think the images are noticeably sharper.Bit of an extravagance but the Antarctic trip will be once in a lifetime I'm sure! cheers bb2
How are 'you' getting on with the K-5 IIs? Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs	Moire hasn't been a problem so far. cheers bb2
Should I buy a 'Q' Posted in Pentax Mirrorless Cameras	Yes get the original Q with the 01 lens if you can find it at a discounted price . Its well built, intuitive to use, very portable. I have an adaptor for other lenses but not sure its needed as portability/small size is optimal with 01 lens. cheers bb2
Shooting the northern lights with my k-30 Posted in General Digital Photography chat	Hi Eddyc. You said: "The painful bit on that first image was waiting another full half an hour for the noise reduction exposure to finish! " I might be wrong but I thought people doing these long astronomical exposures turned the noise reduction exposure to off. Your shots are great! Well done cheers bb2
Anyone gone from K-5 to K-5II? Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs	I took 40 photos at a birthday party on Saturday. No issue at all with moire.Images are sharper.Cheers bb2
K5 SDHC Slot... Posted in Pentax Digital SLRs	This is not a problem with the K5iis. cheers bb2